Will Gilson, the wunderkind chef from Groton, who put the Herb Lyceum on the map when he was still in high school, is one of 20 young chefs across the country named as semifinalists for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year Award.

Gilson, 26, now owns and cooks at Garden at the Cellar, his gastronomic pub in Cambridge.

The five final nominees will be announced on March 23, and the winner on May 4. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the hometown boy!

Gilson occasionally cooks at his family’s restaurant in Groton. Call (978) 448-6499 to find out when.